Cuala face Crokes as Go-Ahead Dublin SHC ‘A’ and ‘B’ get underway

The 2021 Go-Ahead Dublin SHC 'A' gets underway this coming weekend with holders Cuala facing Kilmacud Crokes in the stand-out round-robin fixture this Saturday in Parnell Park (6.0).

Cuala have won five of the last six top-flight championship titles and have secured the New Ireland Assurance on eight occasions in total.

The Dalkey men are chasing a three in-a-row of crowns having won the last two with Ballyboden St Enda's defeating Kilmacud Crokes in the 2018 decider.

Crokes themselves last won the title in 2014 when they overcame St Jude's in the final and the last time the honours went northside was in 2006 when Craobh Chiaráin beat Ballyboden St Enda's.

Cuala and Crokes are very familiar opponents and met in the finals of 2016 and 2017.

Last year Cuala came with a strong last quarter to overcome Ballyboden St Enda's, 2-20 to 1-18, in a high quality Dublin SHC 'A' final at Parnell Park.

Boden, who led by six points late in the opening half, were a point to the good as the teams entered the second half water break, 1-16 to 1-15.

However, the Dalkey men held the upperhand in the decisive moments to run out five-point victors after a sporting and entertaining duel between these two hurling heavyweights.

Over the hour-plus Cuala struck just two wides, both in the opening half, as Boden were left to rue ten wides in total with a particularly costly spell in the first half during which they were the dominant side.

Shortly after the second half water break Con O’Callaghan broke through on goal and was fouled for a penalty as his shot hit the net and Seán Moran clinically dispatched the resulting penalty to see his side take the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

Within two minutes of the penalty Conal Keaney (Ballyboden) and Colum Sheanon (Cuala) were both sent off on second yellow cards and the big-game nous of the former Dublin senior hurler was lacking by his side in the dying minutes.

However, Cuala keeper Seán Brennan also came to his side’s rescue when he made a terrific double save as the game moved into added time when four points separated the sides, 2-19 to 1-18.

Fittingly the last score of the game fell to David Treacy to bring his personal tally to 0-11 (0-7f,0-1 ‘65’) after playing a central role in his side’s eight Dublin SHC top-flight title – this victory brought them level with O’Toole’s and UCD in the top-flight roll of honour.

Similarly in their semi-final victory over Lucan Sarsfields, 1-17 to 0-13, Cuala put in a storming last quarter.

Cuala, who had been playing catch-up for most of the earlier part of the contest, outscored their opponents 1-6 to 0-1 in the closing ten minutes plus added time.

A CJ Smith point gave Lucan a 0-12 to 0-11 lead in the 48th minute but their only other score before the finish was a 50th Ben Coffey free as Cuala took control.

Con O’Callaghan was central to Cuala’s scoring surge with Seán Moran hitting a 49th minute goal following good work by Con.

ROLL OF HONOUR: Dublin SHC (New Ireland Assurance Cup)
Faughs 31 1892, 1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1906, 1910, 1911, 1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1930, 1936, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1950, 1952, 1970, 1973, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1999
St Vincent’s 13 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1975, 1981, 1982, 1988, 1993
Commercials 9 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1916
Cuala 8 1989, 1991, 1994, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020
UCD 8 1934, 1947, 1948, 1961, 1968, 2000, 2004, 2005
O'Toole’s 8 1969, 1977, 1984, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2002
Ballyboden St Enda's 7 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018
Kilmacud Crokes 6 1966 (as Crokes club), 1974, 1976, 1985, 2012, 2014
Garda 6 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931
Young Irelands 6 1932, 1937, 1942, 1943, 1949, 1965
Craobh Chiaráin 5 1971, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2006
Kickhams 4 1889, 1890, 1908, 1924
Rapparees 3 1891, 1894, 1912
Collegians 3 1917, 1918, 1919
Army Metro 3 1933, 1935, 1938
New Irelands 2 1958, 1959
Crumlin 2 1978, 1979
Metropolitans 1 1887
Davitts 1 1893
Thomas Davis 1 1913
Eoghan Ruadh 1 1951
St Columba's 1 1956
Junior Board Selection 1 1963
St Brendan’s 1 1980
Erin's Isle 1 1983

The Go-Ahead Dublin SHC 'B' competition also commences this weekend with last year's champions, Naomh Fionnbarra, facing Na Fianna on Saturday (John Park II Park, 6.0).

The Barrs beat Cuala in last year's SHC 'B' decider, 2-14 to 0-17, when two first half goals proved crucial at Parnell Park.

The first of those vital scores arrived in the ninth minute when Anthony Costello brilliantly fetched a long delivery into the danger area before turning and firing past Ryan De Felice in the Cuala goal to propel his side into a 1-4 to 0-2 lead.

As the game moved into first half added time Dublin senior Eamonn Dillon repeated the feat when he fielded Chris O'Brien's free and likewise found the net from close range.

The Barrs led 2-8 to 0-9 at half-time with Chris O'Brien contributing four points (three frees) for the Cabra outfit while Cuala were very dependent on the deadball accuracy of Brian Fitzgerald.

Cuala could only manage four points from play over the hour-plus with Fitzgerald top-scoring with a massive 0-14, including 13 frees.